Multi-purpose travel accessory

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose travel accessory is disclosed. The multi-purpose travel accessory may be utilized as a travel pillow while riding on a transport vehicle and may be worn as a fashion accessory before, during, or after reaching a travel destination. The multi-purpose travel accessory is formed as an elongated sleeve that is configurable between one or more of a travel pillow, a scarf, a belt, and a head wrap. The elongated sleeve may receive a pillow element therein when used as a travel pillow. Advantageously, the traveler may insert one or more small clothing items to serve as the pillow element, providing additional space for carriage of clothing items. The multi-function travel accessory allows the traveler to use the invention for extra or last-minute packing, as a travel pillow, head wrap, belt or scarf, all during a single trip. Plus, the traveler might avoid extra travel fees for overweight luggage.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/916,645, filed Oct. 17, 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to travel accessories, and more particularly to travel accessories for reducing a traveler's luggage packing space.

For most travelers, luggage packing space can be at a premium. Likewise many travelers have difficulty in deciding between items to select for checked baggage and those for taking along as a carry-on item. During transit on a transportation vehicle (airline, train, bus, automobile, and the like) many travelers enjoy the comfort of having a travel pillow to support their head during transit. However, when they are enroute to their transportation vehicle and after their arrival at their destination, the travel pillow may become an inconvenience to carry.

Likewise, many travelers like the comfort of enjoying their transit without wearing certain fashion accessory items, such as belts, scarves, and head wraps.

Currently, travel pillows are only pillows and require the traveler to find storage space when it is not being used. Likewise, travel pillows cannot be stuffed by the traveler to be made softer or firmer to provide a desired level of comfort.

Similarly, belts, head wraps and scarfs, also take up extra space in the traveler's suitcase, carry-on item, or personal item that could have been used to pack something else.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved travel accessory item that allows the traveler extra space for last minute packing, and can be used as a comfortable travel pillow, head wrap, belt or scarf all during a single trip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a multi-purpose travel accessory is disclosed. The multi-purpose travel accessory includes an elongated sleeve having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity defined within the elongated sleeve. A closure is defined at the first end and an opening at the second end. The elongated sleeve is configured to removably receive a soft cushioning insert within the interior cavity through the opening. The elongated sleeve has a length dimensioned to be loosely wrapped at least twice around a neck of a user.

In some embodiments, the soft cushioning insert is a removable pillow element. The pillow element may have a tubular shape dimensioned to support the neck and head of the user when worn around the neck.

In other embodiments, the soft cushioning insert is one or more small clothing items.

In some embodiments, a knot is tied in the elongated sleeve adjacent to each end of the soft cushioning insert, when received inside the interior cavity.

In other aspects of the invention, a method of saving storage space while traveling is disclosed. The method includes providing a multi-purpose travel accessory formed as an elongated sleeve having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity defined within the elongated sleeve. A closure is defined at the first end, with an opening defined at the second end. The elongated sleeve is configured to removably receive a soft cushioning insert within the interior cavity through the opening. The elongated sleeve has a length dimensioned to be loosely wrapped at least twice around a neck of a user. The method includes wearing the multi-purpose travel accessory as one of a comfort item or a fashion item.

In some embodiments, the method includes inserting the soft cushioning insert into the interior cavity. In some instances, the soft cushioning insert is a travel pillow element and the multi-purpose travel accessory is worn as a travel pillow about the neck of the user.

In some embodiments, the method includes packing one or more small clothing items in the elongated sleeve, wherein the one or more small clothing items are the soft cushioning insert.

The method may also include, knotting the elongated sleeve on each of a first side and a second side adjacent the soft cushioning insert to retain the soft cushioning insert at a desire location along the interior cavity.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of the multi-purpose travel accessory shown in a first use as a travel pillow.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the multi-purpose travel accessory.

FIG. 3 shows the first step in assembling the multi-purpose travel accessory as a travel pillow.

FIG. 4 shows the second step in assembling the multi-purpose travel accessory as a travel pillow.

FIG. 5 shows the third step in assembling the multi-purpose travel accessory as a travel pillow.

FIG. 6 shows a second mode of using the multi-purpose travel accessory worn as a scarf.

FIG. 7 shows a third mode of using the multi-purpose travel accessory worn as a head wrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-purpose travel accessory that may be readily configured between a travel pillow, a scarf, a belt, and a head wrap. The multi-purpose travel accessory provides a convenience to travelers by saving storage space in checked luggage, carry-on, or personal items carried during transportation on a transport vehicle, such as an airline, train, bus, car, and the like.

Traditional travel pillows are made with foam or feathers or other materials. The traveler does not get to choose/select what goes inside of the travel pillow. With head wraps, scarfs, and belts you are unable to add anything into or inside of them. With those articles they are designed just for those individual purposes. The traveler is also unable to add anything into or inside the travel pillow. Each item takes up more space when packing because they are all individual items.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIG. 1, the multi-purpose travel accessory 10 is shown in use as a travel pillow. The multi-purpose travel accessory 10 is formed as an elongated sleeve 12 having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity defined by the elongated sleeve 12. When configured as a travel pillow, a soft cushioning insert 14 is received within the interior cavity of the elongated sleeve 12.

The soft cushioning insert 14 may be removable a pillow element. The pillow element may be tubular or shaped to support the neck and head of the traveler when worn around the neck. Advantageously, the soft cushioning insert 14 may alternatively include one or more clothing items, such as socks, a sweater, a jacket undergarments, t-shirts, shorts, and the like, that the traveler can wear at their destination, thereby saving space in one of the traveler's luggage items.

When the desired soft cushioning insert 14 is positioned within the elongated sleeve 12, the user may then tie the elongated sleeve 12 on either side of the soft cushioning insert 14 to retain the soft cushioning insert 14 at a desired position in the elongated sleeve. The user may then untie the knots to remove the soft cushioning insert 14 when they would like to reconfigure the multi-purpose travel accessory 10 to another use.

The elongated sleeve 12 may be formed of any soft fabric material that may be used for clothing. The fabric may be selected based on its design, pattern, or color. The fabric may also be selected for its ability to stretch and maintain its form as well as its ability to take on a different form and return to its original form. The material may also be selected so that it may be readily tied and untied without damaging the material or forming too tight of a knot.

The elongated sleeve 12 has a longitudinal length sufficient to be loosely wrapped one or more times about the travelers neck, to facilitate configuration as a scarf 16, as shown in FIG. 6, or at least one or more times about the traveler's head, when worn as a head wrap 18, as shown in FIG. 7. Both the width and length of the elongated sleeve 12 are selected to allow for the multiple uses. To tie around ones waist, or wrap around one's head or neck and to allow you to stuff the sleeve with soft articles allowing comfort for the user as a neck pillow.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-purpose travel accessory, comprising: an elongated sleeve having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity defined within the elongated sleeve, a closure defined at the first end, an opening at the second end, the elongated sleeve configured to removably receive a soft cushioning insert within the interior cavity through the opening, the elongated sleeve having a length dimensioned to be loosely wrapped at least twice around a neck of a user.
 2. The multi-purpose travel accessory of claim 1, wherein the soft cushioning insert is a removable pillow element.
 3. The multi-purpose travel accessory of claim 2, wherein the pillow element has a tubular shape dimensioned to support the neck and head of the user when worn around the neck.
 4. The multi-purpose travel accessory of claim 1, wherein the soft cushioning insert is one or more small clothing items.
 5. The multi-purpose travel accessory of claim 1, further comprising: a knot tied in the elongated sleeve adjacent to each end of the soft cushioning insert, when received in the interior cavity.
 6. A method of saving storage space while traveling, comprising: providing a multi-purpose travel accessory formed an elongated sleeve having a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity defined within the elongated sleeve, a closure defined at the first end, an opening defined at the second end, the elongated sleeve configured to removably receive a soft cushioning insert within the interior cavity through the opening, the elongated sleeve having a length dimensioned to be loosely wrapped at least twice around a neck of a user; and wearing the multi-purpose travel accessory as one of a comfort item or a fashion item.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: inserting the soft cushioning insert into the interior cavity.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the soft cushioning insert is a travel pillow element.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-purpose travel accessory is worn as a travel pillow about the neck of the user.
 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising: packing one or more small clothing items in the elongated sleeve, wherein the one or more small clothing items are the soft cushioning insert.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: knotting the elongated sleeve on each of a first side and a second side adjacent the soft cushioning insert to retain the soft cushioning insert at a desire location along the interior cavity. 